Randy, thanks to you for keeping the list going, and thanks to all for posting dealership names and especially photos. I think at the dealership level is where the public's perception of Studebaker really took place.
I wish I could post photos here...just a matter of learning, I guess..but here is a link, from Gary Ash's site, that shows a '47 photo of the Carl E. Filer Co. You'll need to scroll down a bit to see it:
www.studegarage.com/sign.htm
It was an L-shaped building, where the service bays in back were wider than the showroom. There were six individual bays in back, each with an overhead door, with a tall door for big trucks in the center. It had a large, curved parts counter inside. The building now is a laundromat, but the service dept. area in back is largely intact. I have some neat old color photos of the place, inside and out, from 1950-66. Again, I'll have to learn to post them. The bracing that held the round sign in the photo, as well as the bracing that held the large neon vertical "Studebaker" sign at street level, and also the "Official Pennsylvania Inspection Station" sign which was out front, in place, are still present. In 2004, I retrieved the door from the sales floor to the Parts Dept. that has a large red-ball "Studebaker" emblem with "Parts and Accessories" written around it. It now serves as a desk in my office. The "New Miracle Ride Studebakers" sign on the Service Dept. restroom door is still there, although crumbles to the touch.
I also bid on a current item on eBay, that is a 1940 Stude postcard sent from Carl E. Filer to a prospective customer. A small item, but what's the chance??! I only found it by searching on my hometown. Otherwise, I'd have never waded through all the Studebaker stuff to find it. For those of you interested in your hometown dealer, I'd recommend searching eBay with your hometown name. I'd post a link, but I can't seem to do it without my eBay sign-in ID showing up. It's item no. 220203317526.
Bill Pressler
Kent, OH
'63 Lark Daytona Skytop R1
I wish I could post photos here...just a matter of learning, I guess..but here is a link, from Gary Ash's site, that shows a '47 photo of the Carl E. Filer Co. You'll need to scroll down a bit to see it:
www.studegarage.com/sign.htm
It was an L-shaped building, where the service bays in back were wider than the showroom. There were six individual bays in back, each with an overhead door, with a tall door for big trucks in the center. It had a large, curved parts counter inside. The building now is a laundromat, but the service dept. area in back is largely intact. I have some neat old color photos of the place, inside and out, from 1950-66. Again, I'll have to learn to post them. The bracing that held the round sign in the photo, as well as the bracing that held the large neon vertical "Studebaker" sign at street level, and also the "Official Pennsylvania Inspection Station" sign which was out front, in place, are still present. In 2004, I retrieved the door from the sales floor to the Parts Dept. that has a large red-ball "Studebaker" emblem with "Parts and Accessories" written around it. It now serves as a desk in my office. The "New Miracle Ride Studebakers" sign on the Service Dept. restroom door is still there, although crumbles to the touch.
I also bid on a current item on eBay, that is a 1940 Stude postcard sent from Carl E. Filer to a prospective customer. A small item, but what's the chance??! I only found it by searching on my hometown. Otherwise, I'd have never waded through all the Studebaker stuff to find it. For those of you interested in your hometown dealer, I'd recommend searching eBay with your hometown name. I'd post a link, but I can't seem to do it without my eBay sign-in ID showing up. It's item no. 220203317526.
Bill Pressler
Kent, OH
'63 Lark Daytona Skytop R1
Comment